Building construction unit



Feb. 8, 1944. I w. M. WENTWORTH 2,341,064 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT I Filed Oct. 16, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 1 M I I Ii I II f

I I William M fl enlwa rib a ho magi w. M. WENTWORTH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT Filed Oct. 16; 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1944. w. M. WENTWORTH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT Filed Oct. 16, .1941

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WiZZt'arw/M wwwarm RE-ENFORCING SLAB Patented Feb. 8, 1944- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,341,064 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT William M. Wentworth, San Antonio, Tex.

Application October 16, 1941, Serial No. 415,312

4 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction and more particularly to an improved unit for use in the construction of buildings and other structures.

One object of the invention is to provide a building construction including a plurality of precast elements, which may be quickly assembled to form a complete unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of assembling a plurality of building construction units to define a completed wall.

A further object of the invention is to provide a building construction unit wherein provision is made for efficient reinforcement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit of this character employing improved anchoring means.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a building construction unit wherein means are employed for retaining the elements of each unit in their proper associated positions.

Still further objects of the invention, not specifically mentioned hereinbefore, will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation showing a portion of a completed wall formed of a plurality of my improved building construction units,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of a wall constructed of building construction units according to my invention,

Figure 3 is an enlarged rear elevation of one of the building construction units,

Figure 4 is a top View of the unit shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a filler or spacer bar element,

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal detail sectional view showing the connection between adjacent ends of two of my improved construction units, and showing particularly the core between the units,

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view on the line l-I of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a slightly modified construction,

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view showing one of the single wall column form units employed in conjunction with single wall construction,

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail top plan view showing my improved building construction units as applied to a curved wall, and

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view of the building construction shown in Figure 11.

In the drawings, like numerals of reference will be seen to designate like parts throughout the views.

In Figure 1, I have shown a wall which has been formed from a plurality of my improved building construction units. The wall is indicated generally by the numeral I and is mounted on a concrete or other suitable foundation 2. As shown at 3, provision is made for the installation of a window frame.

As best seen in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, each of the building construction units consists of three elements. More specifically, each of said building construction units includes an outer wall element 4, an inner wall element 5 and filler or spacer bars 6. The elements 4, 5 and 6 are each preferably formed of concrete. The wall elements 4. and 5 are formed at their inner surfaces with inwardly projecting ribs I. In a completed wall, as shown in Figure 2, the outer and inner wall elements 4 and 5 are mounted so that the ribs 1 of each of said elements are disposed in opposing relation. The wall elements 4 and 5 are retained in proper spaced relation by means of the horizontally and vertically extending spacer or filler bars 6. Vertically extending reinforcing members may be employed, if necessary.

In Figure 3, the detailed construction of the element 4 is shown. It should be understood that a detailed description of the element 4 is equally applicable to the element 5. The element 4 includes a body 8, preferably of rectangular construction having a smooth outer surface. The body 8 is formed with longitudinally extending ribs 9 and I0, the rib 9 being located near the upper edge of the body and the rib Ill being located near the lower edge thereof. The ribs 9 and I 0 are formed at corresponding ends with sockets II and at opposite corresponding ends with tongues or prongs I2, said prongs projecting past the end edges of the elements. The prongs 12 of one of the elements 4 are, as best seen in Figure 6, engageable in the socket l l of the next adjacent longitudinally alined element 4. It will thus be seen that the cooperating prongs and sockets retain the elements 4 in longitudinal alinement. Near their corresponding opposite ends of the ribs 9 and Ill are each formed with cut away portions or recesses l3. More specifically, the cut away portion or recess l3 in the rib 9 is i the first course.

vertically alined with the cut away portion or recess I3 in the rib it) so as to receive the vertical spacer bars.

The element 4 is, in addition to the tongues or prongs [2, provided with substantially L- shaped anchors it, said anchors extending inwardly at right angles to the length of the element.

In assembling a wall employing building construction I units according to my invention, a course of the units is first laid upon the concrete foundation 2. In order to do so, it is only necessary to place an inner wall element 5 and an outer wall element 4 in position on the foundation and to place a horizontal filler bar 6 in position between them. The vertical filler bars will, of course fit within the vertical recesses in the ribs 9 and I and extend verticallybetween the elements near their corresponding opposite ends. It is to be noted that the filler bar is to be inserted between the elements nearest the end from which the prongs project. The next step is to secure horizontally alined prongs on the inner and outer wall elements to each other by means of a tie wire. This construction is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings and the tie wire is indicated for convenience at E5. More specifically, the upper prongs of the inner and outer elements will be connected by one tie wire and the corresponding lower prongs will be connected together by another of the tie wires [5. The tie wires are then twisted for drawing the elements l and toward each other and against the filler or spacer bar 6. It will thus be seen that an effective building construction unit is thus defined.

After one of said building construction units has been formed, according to the previous description,- additional units are similarly assembled along the foundation. It should be understood that the sockets H of the newly laid units will receive the prongs [2 of previously laid units, so that all of the units will be locked in longi- .tudinal alinement and engagement by said cooperating sockets and prongs H and I2. Additional tie wires it: will be employed for retaining the units in proper assembled relation. Filler bars are, of course, used with the addi tional units. After the units have been laid along the foundation completely around the building, the first course will have been completed.

By again referring to Figure 6, it will be noted that vertical filler bars (5, which are disposed near the ends of each of the units, define a hollow form between the ends of adjacent units. Concrete is poured into these forms and defines a core. The concrete is, of course, poured so that the core will extend to the top ofthe units of It will be understood that reinforcing members, which are located at the time the foundation is poured, will extend upwardly through the core. Again referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the anchors l4 extend into the core and thus provide an effective connection between the inner and outer wall elements and said core. An extremely rigid construction is thus assured.

After the concret core in the first course of units has had sufficient time to obtain its initial set, the second course is placed in position, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The same procedure is followed with additional courses until the top of the wall is reached. It will be understood that the cores will cooperate. to define solidconcrete columns between the ends of adjacentv units.

A roof beam may be formed by placing a plurality of the filler bars or elements in a horizontal position at the desired height, said filler bars, as best seen in Figure 2, overlying opposed ribs 9 and Ill. This operation will form a soffit for the tie beam. The filler elements 6 are to be omitted above th roof beam soffit.

The method of defining an opening fo a window frame is clearly seen in Figures 1, '7 and 8. More specifically, by employing horizontal filler bars or elements, sills and other components may be effectively formed.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings, but one of the wall elements is employed. That is to say, instead of employing inner and outer wall elements, only the outer elements are used. A pair of adjacent longitudinally alined elements are shown at 29 and 2! in Figure 9. In order that these elements may be retained in proper position, I employ a column form unit 22 which column form unit is placed adjacent the meeting ends of the elements and 2| and which defines a form for a concrete column 23, which concrete column receives anchoring members similar to the anchors I4 and, thus provides effective connection for the elements. Reinforcing members 2 are adapted to extend vertically through the column 23. It is obvious that this embodiment of the invention will permit the formation of a wall more economically than would the construction of the preferred embodiment. This construction lends itself well for use for constructing garages, barns, sheds, and other similar buildings.

The double wall construction of the preferred embodiment of th invention is particularly adapted for use for constructing residences, commercial buildings, storage tanks for grain, liquid,

etc. and for any other purpose requiring a highly efficient rigid construction.

With further reference to the use of the double wall construction of the preferred embodiment, reference is respectfully directed to Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings, wherein there is shown a wall formed of building units, the elements of which are longitudinally curved. The units are connected to each other in a manner similar with that of the preferred embodiment. However, the concrete columns defined by the cores are arcuate in transverse section.

The curved elements of this embodiment of the invention are shown at 25 and 26. Said elements may be mounted in an angular groove 21 on a base or foundation 23. Water-proof mastic or other suitable material may be employed for sealing purposes. Vertical and horizontal filler bars 29 and 30, respectively, are employed, as in the preferred embodiment of the invention and steel reinforcing members 3! are also 'employed. The reinforcing members are necessary, as are the vertical and horizontal filler elements, to withstand horizontal pressure exerted by liquid or grain. In this connection, it may be desirable, in certain cases, to make the element 26 thicker than the element 25. The reinforcement thus provided will divert the average pressure direct- 1y to the horizontal beams which are provided at each joint, said beams being effectively r'einforced, as hereinbefore stated. The horizontal beams are defined by the vertical filler elements 29 and are indicated for convenience at 32;

From the above description of the structure shown in Figures 11 and 12, it will be understood thjat it willbje possible to manufacture a tank or silo of everlasting material at a. much lower cost than that for corrugated iron or cypress tanks, which are short lived.

Having thus described th invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A wall construction including inner and outer wall elements each consisting of a plurality of superposed units having their opposed faces provided with vertically spaced inwardly extending longitudinal reinforcing ribs, one end of each rib being provided with a socket and the other end thereof with a projecting anchoring pin fitting within the socket of the adjacent unit, said ribs being formed with vertically alined recesses disposed adjacent the sockets and anchormg pins respectively, spaced elements fitting within said recesses, and tie members disposed between the opposing ends of adjacent units and engaging the projecting anchoring pins of the units of the inner and outer wall elements for tying said elements together.

2. A wall construction including inner and outer wall elements each consisting of a plurality of superposed units having their opposed faces provided with vertically spaced inwardly extending longitudinal reinforcing ribs, one end of each rib being provided with a socket and the other end thereof with a projecting anchoring pin fitting within the socket of the adjacent unit, said ribs being formed with vertically alined recesses spaced from the adjacent ends of the units, transversely disposed spacer elements fitting within the recesses and forming compartments at the opposed ends of said units, concrete filling said compartments and forming vertical reinforcing columns, substantially Lshaped reinforcing ribs engaging said units at the opposite ends thereof and having portions thereof embedded within the concrete forming said columns, and tie members disposed between the opposing ends of adjacent units and engaging the projecting anchoring pins of the units of the inner and outer wall elements for tying said elements together.

3. A wall construction including inner and outer wall elements each consisting of a plurality of superposed units having their opposed faces provided with vertically spaced inwardly extending longitudinal reinforcing ribs, one end of each rib being provided with a socket and the other end thereof with a projecting anchoring pin fitting within the socket of the adjacent unit, said ribs being formed with vertically alined recesses spaced from the opposite ends of the units, vertical spacer elements fitting within said recesses, horizontal spaced elements resting on said ribs, and tie members disposed between the opposing ends of adjacent units and engaging the projecting anchoring pins of the inner and outer wall elements for tying said elements together.

4. A wall unit for building construction comprising a flat substantially rectangular slab having its inner face formed with vertically spaced laterally projecting longitudinal reinforcing ribs extending the entire length of the slab, said ribs adjacent the opposite ends of the slab being formed with vertically alined recesses, a pin receiving socket formed in one end of each rib, an anchoring pin projecting from the other end of each rib, and an anchoring element projecting inwardly from each rib between the vertical recesses therein and the adjacent end of the slab.

WILLIAM M. WENTWORTH. 

